What is legal aid?
‘Legal aid’ refers to free or low-cost legal services that help people resolve their legal problems. In Victoria, this includes services such as:
legal information;
legal advice;
ongoing legal help; and
legal representation (e.g. in court).
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The agencies that provide legal aid services can be grouped as follows:
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA);
community legal centres (e.g. Fitzroy Legal Service);
specialist community legal centres that focus on particular legal areas (e.g. the Mental Health Legal Centre, Environmental Justice Australia);
specialist community legal centres that help particular groups (e.g. the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), Women’s Legal Service, Youthlaw);
private law practices offering free legal advice and assistance (through grants of legal assistance or by referral from Justice Connect or the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV)); and
a range of other organisations.
A list of agencies that provide legal services can be found at the end of this chapter.
What is legal aid?
Chapter: 2.3: Legal services that can help
Contributor: Compiled by Victoria Legal Aid and Fitzroy Legal Service
Current as of: 1 September 2024
Law Handbook Page: 68
Next Section: Victoria Legal Aid
